TAMPA, Fla. — Masahiro Tanaka will battle a lot in his first season with the Yankees. The media attention. The expectations that come with a $155-million contract. Adjusting to everything that comes with the major leagues — the hitters, the bigger ball, the harder mound.

And, apparently, jogging.

Tanaka, 25, said running four laps around George M. Steinbrenner Field was the hardest part of his his first workout with Yankees' pitchers and catchers Saturday morning.

"Probably what I'll remember is the four laps at the end," Tanaka said, via an interpreter. "It was pretty hard."

Tanaka actually brought it up again later. The right-hander was asked whether it was difficult to practice with so many eyes and cameras trained on him.

"Actually, no, I didn't feel that way," Tanaka said. "But just the running part today. I said it earlier, but that one was really hard for me today."

Tanaka added later: "I actually I didn't know that I was going to run this much. and I'm a little bit of a slow runner, but that part I can't help."

A lap around the baseball field here doesn't appear much different in length than a loop around a high school track. That means Tanaka's four laps likely added up to 1 mile.

Tanaka, though, wasn't the only one sweating after the run. A few other pitchers joined him on it, including CC Sabathia, who actually bowed out well before Tanaka.

Tanaka's run came after a 32-pitch bullpen session, his second with the Yankees. He also participated in pitchers fielding practice, simulating a throwing motion and running to first base for a throw.